Dakota Johnson’s Madame Web – One Hell Of A Disaster

Every year, one or two films emerge as detractors’ favorite targets. Unfortunately for the increasingly muddy confusing Sony Spider-Man Universe, which has yet to feature Spider-Man after four films, Madame Web is the film of the year so far. Madame Web portrays Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb, a paramedic who possesses clairvoyant talents and must protect three young women who will become heroes shortly. Sony has chosen an unorthodox plan of action, populating the early days of this cinematic universe with characters who are virtually unknown to the layman, except for two very enjoyable, charming Venom flicks starring Tom Hardy.

Madame Web and Dr. Morbius (the latter of whom featured his disastrous film in 2022 starring Jared Leto) are not household names, but their characters have a lot of exciting possibilities in the hands of a studio looking to create something unique. These films feel hurriedly put together, with the makers, cast, and crew having little direction as to how they might interconnect or what the narrative will even be about. Madame Web suffered severely as the result of rushed modifications to both the script and the edit at the studio level, and Dakota Johnson is certainly not to blame for the film’s failure.

Sony’s Madame Web Review

Dakota Johnson is more aware of the sort of documentary she is in than almost anyone working on making Madame Web. Johnson brings a unique atmosphere to her sections that some viewers may find exhausting or boring yet her somewhat awkward, oppressed affectation works great depending on the role. She additionally provided performances in films such as Suspiria, showcasing her ability to achieve something massive and different. But the degree of commitment Johnson brings to Madame Web is ideal for the film.

Cassandra Webb is portrayed as a dissatisfied burnt-out person who has little interest to be seen as a hero. Her powers are thrust on her abruptly. She reacts as an authentic individual when she is forced to take off on an uncertain trip. Johnson portrays Webb as frustrated, perplexed drained, and over it all. This is not a characterization found in many movies about superheroes, and it lends Madame Web a humorous edge that is not accidental. Many viewers have characterized Madame Web as a film with a lot of unintentional comedy, yet it is evident that some of Johnson’s best moments in the film were intended to be hilarious.

Dakota Johnson’s Madame Web Poster Promised To Be A Thrilling Ride…However….

Despite Johnson’s efforts and the contributions of many outstanding people to the film, including director S.J. Clarkson (who helmed a fantastic early episode of Succession, “Prague”) and Sydney Sweeney, Madame Web fails to stand out in the appropriate ways among an enormous pool of superhero films. This movie’s early 2000s look made it stylistically interesting and the early vision sequences hinted at a Final Destination meets Spider-Man plot that could have functioned well, but Madame Web takes a while to commit to any one of the ideas.

Madame Web Reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Madame Web is yet another indication that the superhero empire is in decline, with studios racing to hurl anything against the wall. If you utilize this strategy, the movies will feel unfinished, negligent, and monotonous. Madame Web is a notion that offers intriguing plot ideas and tremendous promise with a diverse cast of people, some recognized and some new, but every risk the film takes is neglected. Reserving the “good stuff” like seeing Johnson, Sweeney, or anyone else in the picture put on a super-suit and fight someone for a few brief vision sequences of the movie we could’ve had is a horrible move.

Those segments don’t look particularly exciting, but they do provide something aside from a story about Uncle Ben’s coworker overcoming her rival with fireworks and a Pepsi sign. With Uncle Ben and Mary Parker in the central conflict, and the film ending with Mary’s unidentified kid being born, this picture comes uncomfortably close to tying into a Spider-Man story in a meaningful way but reinforces off at the last possible moment. 

Despite Sony’s lack of a cohesive vision for what Madame Web should have been, there are a few evidence that a good version of this film lurks somewhere. While Johnson’s performance is one of the film’s few key points, her experience filming the film seemed to match how attendees felt about it. During the hilarious press tour for this film, Johnson not-so-subtly distanced herself from the project, explaining that her Madame Web experience had driven her averse to working on franchise films. 

Based On Madame Web Reviews, Should We Expect Its Sequel? 

The fact implies we shouldn’t expect a Madame Web sequel imminently, if ever. The best thing that could come out of this fiasco is that Sony understands what isn’t working regarding its franchise attempt and gives producers and actors more autonomy to do what they do best.